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- (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

- W. F. RICHARDS.

GAR BUFFER N0. 52 O,673. Patented May 29, 1894.

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(No Model.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

W. P. RICHARDS.

CAR BUFFER.

' Patented May 29, 1894.

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UNITED STATES PATENT FFIcE.

WILLARD F. RICHARDS, OF BUFFALO, ASSIGNOR TO THE GOULD COUPLER COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

CAR-BUFFER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent Nb. 520,573, dated May 29, 1894.

Application filed July 10, 1893- Serial No. 480,003- (N'o model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLARD F. RICHARDS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in 'Oar-Bufiers, of which the following 1s a specification.

This invention relates to the buffers or yielding platform extensions which are applied to the ends of railway cars, and more especially to buffers of this kind which are capable of an oscillating motion, so as to accommodate themselves to the position of the cars in rounding curves. These buffers are provided with extension springs for holding them in contact with the buffer of an oppos- 1ng car, so as to form a continuous platform between the cars. When the cars are coupled, the extension springs of the bufiers are compressed, and in order to permit the cars to be easily coupled and uncoupled, the springs must be comparatively light.

My invention has for its object to provide the bufier with simple and inexpensive means whereby an increased or supplemental pressure may be applied thereto, after the cars have been coupled, so as to hold the buffers of opposing cars in firmer contact with each other and thereby check or avoid the disagreeable rolling or swaying motion of the cars, without, however, interfering with the easy coupling or uncoupling of the same.

In the accompanying drawings consisting of two sheets':-Figure 1 is a sectional top plan view of the platform and adjacent portion of a railway car containing my improvement, the flooring being omitted to expose the parts underneath the same. Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal section of the buffer. Fig. 3 is a cross section in line 3-3, Fig. 1.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several figures.

A represents the longitudinal timbers of the stationary car platform, B the cross timber connecting the outer ends of the longitudinal timbers and O the end sill of the car body.

D is the buffer or yielding platform extension which preferably consists of a transverse ed inner portion in an opening 6 formed in a block E secured between the longitudinal central timbers of the platform.

F is the light extension spring of the buffer, which surrounds the contracted inner portion of the buffer stem between the collar or shoulder f of the latter, and the bottom of a horizontal socket g. This socket is arranged in a horizontal eye or collar it formed centrally in a transverse follower or abutment bar H, which latter is arranged to move. toward and from the end timber of the platform and is guided in slots or recesses h formed lengthwise in the longitudinal tinibers of the platform. The socket g is provided at its front end with an annular flange 9' which bears against the front side of the follower H and whereby the socket and the rear end of the extension spring are compelled to move forward with the follower. When in its rearinost position the socket g is seated with its rear end in a recess 2' formed in the block E. a

I is the usual main or heavybu'fier spring which surrounds the light extension spring and sustains any heavy shocks that over power the latter. WVhenthis heavy spring comes into action, it is compressed between the collar f of the main bufier stem and the flange of the socket g.

J J represent the side stems or stay rods of the buffer which are pivoted at their front ends to the buffer on opposite sides of its pivot and which carry the usual righting springs K.

These side stems are guided with their front portions in openings formed inthe end tim-' ber B. Their rear portions may be guided in openings formed directly in the end portions of the follower H, but they preferably slide in movable tubes it, as described and shown in Letters Patent of the United States,

No 495,061, granted to me April 11, 1893, by whlch construction the side springs serve to hold the buffer from rattling when the cars are uncoupled as well as to right the same.

Any other suitable or well known spring mechanism for projecting the buffer may, however, be employed, if desired.

L L represent a pair of pressure cylinders arranged in rear of the follower H, on opposite sides of the platform center, and each containing a piston Z. Each of these pistons has a rod Z which passes through an opening formed in the front head of the cylinder and is attached at its outer end to the follower, preferably by a vertical bolt, as shown in Fig. 1. The pressure cylinders may be supplied with any suitable fluid under pressure for actuating their pistons, but they are preferably supplied with compressed air from an auxiliary reservoir M connected by a pipe m with the reservoir which supplies compressed air for applying the brakes of the car. A reducing valve m of any ordinary construction is preferably arranged in the pipe m. m is the main supplypipe connected with the auxiliary reservoir and m m are branch pipes leading from said pipe to the rear ends of the pressure cylinders.

N is a three way cook or valve, of any suitable construction, arranged in the main supply pipe m and having its ports so arranged that upon turning the valve in one direction the pressure cylinders are placed in communication with the reservoir, while upon turning it in the opposite direction, the supply of air to the cylinders is shut off and the air in the same is allowed to escape, to permit the pistons to return to the rear ends of the cylinders.

In the normal position of the parts, before the cars are coupled, the follower is in its rearmost position and bears against the rear ends of the recesses in which it is arranged, and the pistons of the pressure cylinders are at the rear extremity of their stroke, as indicated in Fig. 1. In this position of the parts, the follower H serves merely as a stationary rearabutment for the various springs of the bufier, and upon coupling the cars, the buffer is pressed inward in the ordinary manner. After the cars have been coupled, compressed air is admitted to the pressure cylinders by properly turning the three-way valve in the main pipe m The compressed air entering the cylinders behind their pistons forces the latter to the front end of the cylinders, thereby moving the follower forward with the same,

' and further compressing the several springs between their abutments. The'supplemental pressure thus applied to the springs is exerted upon the buffer, causing the same to be pressed with correspondingly increased force against the buffer of the opposing car, thereby restraining the movements of the buffers upon each other and avoiding the unpleasant rocking or swaying motion of the cars which is permitted by an ordinary spring buffer.

When it is desired to nncouple the cars, the three-Way valve of the main air pipe is turned in the proper direction to shut off the further supply of air to the pressure cylinders and permit the air to escape therefrom. The pressure being now removed from the rear side of the follower, the compressed springs expand to their former light tension and return the follower to its normal position, permitting the cars to be uncoupled without difficulty.

I claim as my invention 1. The combination with the main platform and the buffer or movable platform extension, of a follower guided on the main platform and movable toward and from said buffer, side stems attached at their front ends to the butfer and sliding with their rear portions in said follower, buffer springs mounted on said stems between said follower and shoulders arranged. on the side stems, and a pressure cylinder and piston arranged in rear of said follower, whereby the latter is moved forward for increasing the tension of said buffer springs, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination with the main platform and the buffer or movable platform extension, of a follower arranged in rear of said bufier or platform extension, extension springs interposed between the bufier and said follower, and a pressure cylinder and, piston acting upon said follower,wherebythe same is moved forward for applying an additional tension to said springs substantially as set forth.

3. The combination with the main platform, the buffer or platform extension and its extension springs, of a follower forming the rear abutment of such springs, a pressure cylinder, a piston arranged in said cylinder and having its rod connected with said follower and a pipe for supplying fluid under pressure to said cylinder, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination with the main latform,

the buffer or platform extension and its extension springs, of a follower forming the rear abutment of such springs, a pressure cylinder and piston for operating said follower, a pipe for supplying fluid under pressure to said cylinder, and a three-way valve arranged in said pipe, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination with the main platform, the buffer or platform extension and its extension springs, of a follower forming the rear abutment of such springs, pressure cylinders and pistons arranged on opposite sides of the middle of said follower, for operating the same, a compressed air reservoir, a main supply pipe connected With said reservoir and having a valve, and branch pipes leading from said main pipe to the rear portions of the pressure cylinders, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination with the main platform,

the butter or platform extension, and its eental pressure device operating upon said foltral extension spring, of a follower guided on lower, substantially as set forth. the main platform, a socket arranged in an Witness my hand this 6th day of July, 1893. opening in said follower forming the rear 5 abutment of said extension spring, and hav- Witnesses:

ing a flange or stop which compels it to move CARL F. GEYER, forward with the follower, and a supplemen- FRED. C. GEYER.

WILLARD F. RICHARDS. 

